1 Samuel 12:10
New International Version
They cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’

New Living Translation
“Then they cried to the LORD again and confessed, ‘We have sinned by turning away from the LORD and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth. But we will worship you and you alone if you will rescue us from our enemies.’

English Standard Version
And they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’

Berean Standard Bible
Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’

King James Bible
And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

New King James Version
Then they cried out to the LORD, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

New American Standard Bible
They cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have abandoned the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now save us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

NASB 1995
“They cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

NASB 1977
“And they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve Thee.’

Legacy Standard Bible
And they cried out to Yahweh and said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

Amplified Bible
They cried out to the LORD, saying, ‘We have sinned because we have abandoned (rejected) the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now rescue us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

Christian Standard Bible
Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned the LORD and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned the LORD and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

American Standard Version
And they cried unto Jehovah, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Jehovah, and have served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

Contemporary English Version
Again your ancestors cried out to the LORD for help. They said, "We have sinned! We stopped worshiping you, our LORD, and started worshiping Baal and Astarte. But now, if you rescue us from our enemies, we will worship you."

English Revised Version
And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then they cried out to the LORD and said, 'We have sinned. We have abandoned the LORD and served other gods and goddesses-the Baals and the Astartes. But rescue us from our enemies now, and we will serve you.'

Good News Translation
Then they cried to the LORD for help and said, 'We have sinned, because we turned away from you, LORD, and worshiped the idols of Baal and Astarte. Rescue us from our enemies, and we will worship you!'

International Standard Version
"Then they cried out to the LORD: 'We have sinned because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'

Majority Standard Bible
Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’

NET Bible
Then they cried out to the LORD and admitted, 'We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth. Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies so that we may serve you.'

New Heart English Bible
And they cried to the LORD, and they said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'

Webster's Bible Translation
And they cried to the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

World English Bible
They cried to Yahweh, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they cry to YHWH, and say, We have sinned, because we have forsaken YHWH, and serve the Ba‘alim, and Ashtaroth, and now, deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we serve You.

Young's Literal Translation
and they cry unto Jehovah, and say, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Jehovah, and serve the Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and now, deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we serve Thee.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will cry to Jehovah, and say, We sinned, for we forsook Jehovah, and we shall serve the Baalims and Ashtaroth: and now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies and we will serve thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But afterwards they cried to the Lord, and said: We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Astaroth: but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But afterward, they cried out to the Lord, and they said: ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and we have served the Baals and Ashtaroth. Now therefore, rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’

New American Bible
They cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned because we abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and Astartes. Now deliver us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.’

New Revised Standard Version
Then they cried to the LORD, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served the Baals and the Astartes; but now rescue us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they prayed before the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD our God and have served Baal and Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies and we will serve thee.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they prayed before LORD JEHOVAH and they said: “We have sinned, for we have forsaken LORD JEHOVAH our God and we have served Baal and the secret places, and now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we shall serve you!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they cried unto the LORD, and said: We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve Thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they cried to the Lord, and said, We have sinned, for we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and the groves: and now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samuel's Farewell Address
9But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. 10Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’ 11So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.…

Cross References
Judges 10:10
Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God and served the Baals.”

Judges 10:15-16
“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!” / So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.

Psalm 106:44-45
Nevertheless He heard their cry; He took note of their distress. / And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.

Nehemiah 9:27-28
So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies. / But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who had dominion over them. When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven, and You delivered them many times in Your compassion.

Judges 2:18
Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed them and afflicted them.

2 Chronicles 7:14
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Isaiah 63:9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Psalm 78:34-35
When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God. / And they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

Hosea 5:15
Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

Jeremiah 3:22
“Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God.

Acts 7:34
I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

Romans 10:13
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Luke 15:18-19
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. / I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’


Treasury of Scripture

And they cried to the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.

And they

1 Samuel 7:2
And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Judges 3:9,15
And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother…

Judges 4:3
And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

Baalim

Judges 2:13
And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

Judges 3:7
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

deliver

Judges 10:15,16
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day…

Isaiah 33:22
For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

Luke 1:74,75
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, …

Jump to Previous
Ashtaroth Ash'taroth Ashtoreths Astartes Baalim Baals Ba'als Cried Cry Crying Deliver Enemies Evil Hand Hands Safe Servants Serve Served Sinned Turned Worshipping
Jump to Next
Ashtaroth Ash'taroth Ashtoreths Astartes Baalim Baals Ba'als Cried Cry Crying Deliver Enemies Evil Hand Hands Safe Servants Serve Served Sinned Turned Worshipping
1 Samuel 12
1. Samuel testifies his integrity
6. He reproves the people of ingratitude
16. He terrifies them with thunder in harvest time
20. he comforts them in God's mercy














Then they cried out to the LORD
The phrase "cried out" in Hebrew is "זָעַק" (za'aq), which conveys a deep, earnest plea for help. This is not a casual request but a desperate cry from the heart. Throughout the Old Testament, this term is used when the Israelites find themselves in dire situations, often due to their own disobedience. The act of crying out to the LORD signifies a turning point, a moment of realization and repentance. It is a reminder of God's readiness to listen to His people when they genuinely seek Him, emphasizing His mercy and grace.

and said, ‘We have sinned
The acknowledgment "We have sinned" is crucial in the process of repentance. The Hebrew word for sin here is "חָטָא" (chata), which means to miss the mark or to fail. This confession is an admission of their failure to live up to God's standards. It reflects a humble recognition of their wrongdoing, which is the first step towards restoration. In the conservative Christian perspective, this confession is essential for receiving God's forgiveness and is a model for believers today.

for we have forsaken the LORD
To "forsake" in Hebrew is "עָזַב" (azab), meaning to leave or abandon. This phrase highlights the gravity of Israel's sin; they have not merely erred but have actively turned away from God. Historically, this forsaking often led to idolatry and moral decay. The conservative Christian view sees this as a warning against the dangers of turning away from God, emphasizing the importance of steadfast faithfulness.

and served the Baals and Ashtoreths
The "Baals" and "Ashtoreths" were Canaanite deities, representing fertility and war. Serving these gods was a direct violation of the first commandment, which forbids idolatry. The Israelites' worship of these deities was not just a religious error but a cultural and spiritual betrayal of their covenant with God. Archaeological findings have uncovered numerous artifacts related to Baal and Ashtoreth worship, underscoring the pervasive influence of these cults. From a conservative standpoint, this serves as a cautionary tale about the seductive nature of cultural assimilation and the importance of maintaining distinctiveness as God's people.

But now deliver us from the hand of our enemies
The plea for deliverance is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word for "deliver" is "יָשַׁע" (yasha), which means to save or rescue. This request acknowledges God's power and sovereignty, recognizing that only He can provide true salvation. Historically, Israel's enemies were often instruments of God's judgment, but they also served as catalysts for repentance and renewal. In the conservative Christian tradition, this plea is seen as a metaphor for spiritual deliverance from sin and evil.

and we will serve You.’
The commitment "we will serve You" signifies a return to covenant faithfulness. The Hebrew word for "serve" is "עָבַד" (avad), which implies worship, work, and obedience. This promise reflects a renewed dedication to God, a pledge to live according to His will. For conservative Christians, this is a call to action, emphasizing that true repentance involves not just turning away from sin but also actively pursuing a life of service to God. It is a reminder that faith is demonstrated through obedience and devotion.

(10) And they cried unto the Lord.--As soon as they were convinced of their sin and rebellion, and accused themselves, and returned to their old allegiance, their invisible King, ever full of pity and tender compassion, forgave them, and sent them quick deliverance.

And have served Baalim and Ashtaroth.--Baal and Ashtaroth were the well-known leading Ph?nician deities; the worship, with most of its details, was imported probably from Carthage, the great Ph?nician centre. The temple of Baal-shemesh, the Sun god, at Carthage, was renowned in that luxurious and splendid city. (For a detailed and picturesque account of the worship and ritual of Baal at Carthage, see M. Gustave Flaubert's romance of Salombo.) Baal and Ashtaroth, the Greek Astarte, were probably originally worshipped simply as the sun and moon. The plural form refers to the various personifications and different titles of the god and goddess.

Verse 10. - We have served [the] Baalim and [the] Ashtaroth. I.e. the numerous Baals and Astartes, which were worshipped under various titles by the heathen. For though representing the same power, each people had their own epithets for their own particular personification of the god (see on 1 Samuel 7:4).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then they cried out
וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ (way·yiz·‘ă·qū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2199: To shriek, to announce, convene publicly

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and said,
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ‪‬ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘We have sinned,
חָטָ֔אנוּ (ḥā·ṭā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

for
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

we have forsaken
עָזַ֙בְנוּ֙ (‘ā·zaḇ·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and served
וַנַּעֲבֹ֥ד (wan·na·‘ă·ḇōḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

the Baals
הַבְּעָלִ֖ים (hab·bə·‘ā·lîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1168: Baal -- a heathen god

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

Ashtoreths.
הָעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת (hā·‘aš·tā·rō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6252: A place East of the Jordan

Now
וְעַתָּ֗ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

deliver us
הַצִּילֵ֛נוּ (haṣ·ṣî·lê·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common plural
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

from the hands
מִיַּ֥ד (mî·yaḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of our enemies,
אֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ (’ō·yə·ḇê·nū)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

and we will serve You.’
וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃ (wə·na·‘aḇ·ḏe·kā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave


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OT History: 1 Samuel 12:10 They cried to Yahweh and said We (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 12:9
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